Lexington, KY – August 7, 2025 – The small pony hunters were the main event in the Rolex Stadium today as nearly 120 entries had their chance at the jumping phase. Topping the over fences class was This Time, a 2013 Welsh Pony gelding owned by Eliza Jane St. George and shown by Logan Baras (Greenwich, Conn.) Their winning score in the over fences phase launched This Time (Boston Bonaparte x Rondo’s Celine) and Baras to the top of the division, earning them the overall national champion title. This Time is a catch ride for Baras, but despite their short time to prepare together, they clearly clicked when it mattered.
“I rode him for the first time on Monday,” she said. “I was supposed to ride another pony, but I ended up riding ‘Nox,’ and he was just perfect.”
This Time and Baras had good showings in the previous two phases but had not cracked the top ten on the leaderboard after the first day of competition. Their under-the-radar showing may have been a positive factor in their eventual success.
“It definitely takes some of the pressure off,” said Baras. “You can just go in there and really have fun.”
Baras trains at Grafton Ridge LLC with Michael DelFiandra, Krista Goosens, and Vanessa Roman. The 11-year-old rider has a busy week at this year’s Pony Finals with an entry in the medium regular hunters and in the Pony Medal Final on Sunday.
Rounding out the championship honors was Annie Cooper and Spring Fling, who claimed the reserve title as competition came to a close in the Rolex Stadium.